Improvement in fire-proof floors and ceilings



W. T. BUTLER. Fire-Proof Floors and Ceilings.

$10,141,260, Patentedjuly 29,1873.

272V v .f/ 4 M "13231 aymw er I I Attorneys,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM T. BUTLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-PROOF FLOORS AND CEILINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,260, dated July 29,1873; application filed June 28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. BUTLER, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement inBuilding, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to new and important improvements in constructingbuildings; and consists in the manner of forming the floors andceilings, hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of a floor and aceiling constructed according to my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the joists, which are made of wood, and so constructed thatthey form abutments for brick arches at the top or for the floor, and soas to support inverted arches for the ceiling at the bottom. B is abrace or rod of iron, one (or more) of which may be used for tying thejoists together. These ties may screw into the joists or be fastened bymeans of plates 0, which latter are screwed or fast cued to the joists,the design being to keep the joists rigid and at a uniform distance fromeach other, and the braces may be arranged in any manner. D is the archbetween two of the joists for the support of the floor. A succession ofthese arches forms the entire support of the floor. These arches aresprung from one joist to another, as seen in the drawing, with bricksmade for the purpose, supported by the beveled surfaces or abutments Eof the joists. form, as seen in the drawing, and the bricks of which thearches are formed will be varied accordingly. F is the floor, which maybe of any description-either cement, tile, stone, or wood carpet. Grepresents the inverted arch which supports the ceiling. The lower partof the joist has beveled surfaces H, which support the arches. From thesupporting-sur- These bevels may vary in faces H the joists are beveledto an edge, so that the bricks which form the arches come in contactwith each other and form a continu ous incom bustible surface beneaththe joists. These arches are hanging arches, supported by the inclinedsurfaces H, and the bricks are formed so as to inclose the lower edgesof the joint, and conform in shape to each other, as seen in thedrawing. 1 is the plaster or ceil ing surface, which is laid directlyupon the arches, thus dispensing with laths.

The joists, it will be seen, are completely covered and shieldedaboveand below with a fireproof material, which heat neither contracts norexpands.

I do not confine myself strictly to wooden joists, as iron joists may beused; but my object is to reduce the expense of forming fireproof floorsand ceilings, the most essential features of fire-proof buildings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The construction of the joists A,,substantially asand for the purpose described.

2. The braces or rods B, more or less in number, in combination with thejoists A, for the purposes described.

3. The arch D, in combination with the joists A, substantially as andfor the purposes described.

4. The hanging arch G, in combination with the joists A, substantiallyas and for the purposes described.

5. A fire and water proof floor and ceiling, F and I, supported byjoists A and arches D and G, arranged substantially as shown anddescribed.

WILLIAM T. BUTLER.

Witnesses:

SIDNEY H. BUTLER, MICHAEL J. EIGH.

